St. Agatha

Sir 47: 2-11

As the fat is set apart from the offering of well-being, so David was set apart from the Israelites. He played with lions as though they were young goats, and with bears as though they were lambs of the flock. In his youth did he not kill a giant, and take away the people’s disgrace,when he whirled the stone in the sling and struck down the boasting Goliath? For he called on the Lord, the Most High, and he gave strength to his right armto strike down a mighty warrior, and to exalt the power of his people.

So they glorified him for the tens of thousands he conquered, and praised him for the blessings bestowed by the Lord, when the glorious diadem was given to him. For he wiped out his enemies on every side, and annihilated his adversaries the Philistines; he crushed their power to our own day. In all that he did he gave thanks to the Holy One, the Most High, proclaiming his glory;he sang praise with all his heart, and he loved his Maker.

He placed singers before the altar, to make sweet melody with their voices. He gave beauty to the festivals, and arranged their times throughout the year,while they praised God’s holy name, and the sanctuary resounded from early morning. The Lord took away his sins, and exalted his power for ever;he gave him a covenant of kingship and a glorious throne in Israel.

New Revised Standard Version, copyright 1989, by the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved. USCCB approved.

Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam

With his every deed he offered thanks to God Most High, in words of praise.With his whole being he loved his Makerand daily had his praises sung.

Ignatian Spirituality encourages us to see God in all things, and through our words, deeds, and actions to live AdMajorem Dei Gloriam (for the greater glory of God). In this reading we see David embracing this very motto long before St. Ignatius founded the Jesuits. We find ourselves living in a secular world, but spirituality and faith are deep within the core of our beings. If we are true to our authentic selves, we cannot separate the secular from the spiritual.

How do we balance living out this spirituality and faith in a world that is politically correct, in a world that tries to remove references of God and prayer, and in a world that finds religion divisive? If we close our eyes and imagine loving God with our whole beings as David did, what does this look like? How can we peacefully surrender to God while being his advocate in this world, and while being a soldier of Christ?

—Leigh M. Hartley works in higher education administration at the University of Chicago. Over the past 15 years she has volunteered with the Jesuits, initially with Charis Ministries more recently years through planning and organizing pilgrimages with Fr. Michael Sparough, S.J.

Prayer

Take, Lord, and receive all my liberty,my memory, understanding, and my entire will.All I have and call my own.You have given all to me. To you, Lord, I return it.Everything is yours; do with it what you will.Give me only your love and your grace;this is enough for me.

–St. Ignatius of Loyola

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St. Ignatius’s First Principle and Foundation says “The goal of our life is to live with God forever. God, who loves us, gave us life. Our own response of love allows God's life to flow into us without limit.” One of the ways in which we respond to the love God has given us is through prayer, not only personal prayer but community prayer as well.
The Pastoral Ministry Center invites members of our Strake Jesuit Community to share their prayers with us: their concerns, joys, thanksgivings, so that we may walk with them in all these times of their lives.

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St. Agatha

Sir 47: 2-11

As the fat is set apart from the offering of well-being, so David was set apart from the Israelites. He played with lions as though they were young goats, and with bears as though they were lambs of the flock. In his youth did he not kill a giant, and take away the people’s disgrace,when he whirled the stone in the sling and struck down the boasting Goliath? For he called on the Lord, the Most High, and he gave strength to his right armto strike down a mighty warrior, and to exalt the power of his people.

So they glorified him for the tens of thousands he conquered, and praised him for the blessings bestowed by the Lord, when the glorious diadem was given to him. For he wiped out his enemies on every side, and annihilated his adversaries the Philistines; he crushed their power to our own day. In all that he did he gave thanks to the Holy One, the Most High, proclaiming his glory;he sang praise with all his heart, and he loved his Maker.

He placed singers before the altar, to make sweet melody with their voices. He gave beauty to the festivals, and arranged their times throughout the year,while they praised God’s holy name, and the sanctuary resounded from early morning. The Lord took away his sins, and exalted his power for ever;he gave him a covenant of kingship and a glorious throne in Israel.

New Revised Standard Version, copyright 1989, by the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved. USCCB approved.

Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam

With his every deed he offered thanks to God Most High, in words of praise.With his whole being he loved his Makerand daily had his praises sung.

Ignatian Spirituality encourages us to see God in all things, and through our words, deeds, and actions to live AdMajorem Dei Gloriam (for the greater glory of God). In this reading we see David embracing this very motto long before St. Ignatius founded the Jesuits. We find ourselves living in a secular world, but spirituality and faith are deep within the core of our beings. If we are true to our authentic selves, we cannot separate the secular from the spiritual.

How do we balance living out this spirituality and faith in a world that is politically correct, in a world that tries to remove references of God and prayer, and in a world that finds religion divisive? If we close our eyes and imagine loving God with our whole beings as David did, what does this look like? How can we peacefully surrender to God while being his advocate in this world, and while being a soldier of Christ?

—Leigh M. Hartley works in higher education administration at the University of Chicago. Over the past 15 years she has volunteered with the Jesuits, initially with Charis Ministries more recently years through planning and organizing pilgrimages with Fr. Michael Sparough, S.J.

Prayer

Take, Lord, and receive all my liberty,my memory, understanding, and my entire will.All I have and call my own.You have given all to me. To you, Lord, I return it.Everything is yours; do with it what you will.Give me only your love and your grace;this is enough for me.